Smuggler Wants His Rolexes Back

Federal agents confiscated his Mercedes, $344,000 cash and a pair of Rolex watches when they arrested Rene Rodriguez on cocaine-smuggling charges in 1985.

Now Rodriguez wants the watches back.

Joel Robrish, the attorney for the 39-year-old convicted cocaine trafficker, was in federal court in West Palm Beach Tuesday asking that the watches and other seized jewelry valued at $20,000 be returned to Rodriguez. Robrish says the jewelry was unfairly confiscated by federal authorities.

``One of the watches was a stainless-steel Rolex that belongs to his son,`` Robrish said.

In addition to the watches, agents seized a diamond ring and a gold necklace from Rodriguez.

U.S. Attorney Karen Atkinson insisted the jewelry was legally confiscated after a forfeiture proceeding last year. Under the law, the government can take possession of any assets obtained with profits from drug smuggling.

Robrish, however, said his client never had the chance to contest the forfeiture of his jewelry. He said Rodriguez was confined to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Miami and was never notified of the impending forfeiture hearing.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty in August 1986 to conspiracy and importation of 1,600 pounds of cocaine into Palm Beach County. The cocaine was seized from a house in Lake Park in June 1985. Rodriguez was fined $500,000 and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Authorities say Rodriguez, who lived in a luxury apartment overlooking Key Biscayne, once bragged that he made $90 million smuggling drugs. Drug agents said he helped mastermind and finance one of South Florida`s largest drug- smuggling rings.